Spanish

Modern Foreign Languages

Primary

Introducing Spanish to the primary curriculum

In anticipation of the need for every primary school to deliver Key Stage 2 Modern Foreign Languages by 2009, we visit Arnot Community Primary in Liverpool to see how they are introducing Spanish to the curriculum. Pupils from Reception to Year 3 are taught greetings, names of animals, colours, days of the week, simple conversation and basic numbers through a variety of inventive methods. Non-specialist classroom teachers are supported in their teaching by a group of experts including LEA advisor Sheila Grady, MFL co-ordinator and AST Teresa Miller and dedicated foreign language assistant Lucia Abalos. Sheila Grady asserts that MFL integrates productively into KS1 schemes of work and believes that starting this process early can only benefit teachers and pupils as the KS2 requirement approaches. See the resources and support materials page for links related to this programme.

KS1/2 Modern Foreign Languages - Integrating Spanish - Reception to Year 3

How progression in grammar and literacy can be built into MFL

This programme explores how progression in grammar and literacy can be built into a school's Modern Foreign Languages strategy and asks what wider value can be gained from teaching MFL at primary level. Arnot Community Primary in Liverpool is a Centre of Excellence for MFL with Spanish speakers on staff and pupils learning the language from Foundation onwards. We visit the school and take a look at what they are achieving with their children by Year 6. We also discover what being a Centre of Excellence for MFL entails. More specifically, we focus on the numeracy work and games in Martin Fitzgerald's Year 5-6 class and speak with LEA advisors Jayne Patten and Sheila Grady. We also speak to foreign language assistant Lucia Abalos and hear from the non-specialist teachers who are delivering the strategies in the classroom.

KS1/2 Modern Foreign Languages - Strategies and Pay-offs - Spanish to Year 6

For KS2 Spanish, see Mexican pupils make a piñata and sing a song

In a creative idea for teaching Key Stage 2 Spanish, this short video shows how to make a piñata (brightly-coloured decoration). In Mexico it's a birthday tradition to make a piñata, fill it with sweets, hang it from the ceiling and take turns in hitting it until it breaks, spilling the treats inside. Roman and his friends, Alondra and Daniel, make a piñata and show what to do with it when it's finished. There's also a song that accompanies the destruction of the piñata - and the words appear on screen in this video, to help pupils sing along. This primary lesson starter relates to the modern language and themes explored in I am the Music Man, curriculum unit 14 of KS2 Spanish. It also helps pupils develop cultural understanding.

KS2 Spanish - Cómo hacer una piñata

KS2 Spanish lesson ideas with children discussing life in Mexico

In this Key Stage 2 Spanish lesson starter, Toni and fellow pupils from the Escuela Primaria talk about life where they live in Mexico. Jairo interviews fellow pupil, Ingrid, about Son Jaracho music with a short video from the song La Bamba, and Alejandro catches up with the captain of the football team, Angel. Lastly, Gladys presents the weather forecast for Veracruz. Shot in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz in southern Mexico, this video gives an opportunity to develop primary pupils' modern language skills and cultural understanding.

Primary Spanish - ?Que noticias hay?

For KS2 Spanish, pupil Edgardo gives a tour of his Mexican school

Give Key Stage 2 Spanish pupils a sense of life in a Mexican school, with schoolboy Edgardo giving a tour of his school in Escuela Primaria, in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz, in southern Mexico. Edgardo points out the school's entrance, co-operative canteen, classrooms, toilets, playground and IT room, with the tour finishing at the end of the school day. This video gives an opportunity to develop primary pupils' modern language skills and cultural understanding.

Primary Spanish - Aqui esta mi escuela

A Mexican pupil describes his journey to school, for KS2 Spanish

Designed for Key Stage 2 pupils learning Spanish, this short video follows a pupil, Kiabet, on his journey from home to school in Cosoleacaque, Mexico. He describes the exact route he takes, and comments on landmarks along the way. This primary lesson starter relates to the language and themes explored in I am the Music Man, curriculum unit 14 for KS2 Spanish. And it gives an opportunity to develop pupils' modern language skills and cultural understanding.

Primary Spanish - El camino de la escuela

Mexican children perform Spanish songs, for KS2 pupils

For upper Key Stage 2 pupils learning Spanish, this video shows schoolchildren in Veracruz, Mexico, performing the traditional song, El Colas. To help with teaching the song in class, the song lyrics appear as subtitles. This primary lesson starter relates to the language and themes explored in 'I am the Music Man', curriculum unit 14 of KS2 Spanish. It also aims to help a modern languages class develop intercultural understanding.

Primary Spanish - El Colas - Una cancion tradicional

For KS2 Spanish, a Mexican boy interviews a lady about her past

Show Key Stage 2 Spanish learners what local Mexican life was like 20 years ago, as schoolboy Jose Carlos interviews a local shopkeeper in Cosoleacaque, Mexico. 11-year-old Jose talks to shopowner Doa Hernandez about what life was like when she was young. Doa talks about where she lived and what her school and local area were like. She also mentions the fact that 20 years ago there was no electricity or running water. Shot in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz in southern Mexico, the video uses the past tense and supports curriculum unit 22 for KS2 Spanish, Then and Now, offering opportunities to develop primary pupils' modern language skills and cultural understanding.

Primary Spanish - El Pasado y el Presente

Five engaging KS2 Spanish lesson starters for primary pupils

Introduce a Key Stage 2 Spanish class to the culture and language of Mexico with five short videos filmed in Cosoleacaque, Mexico. Native Spanish-speaking children present and engage in various activities including a traditional song with subtitles, a narration of a school journey, a discussion on the seasons and a lesson on how to make a piñata (brightly-coloured decoration). Supporting the KS2 framework and modern languages objectives, these primary lessons starters provide a great introduction to Spanish.

Primary Spanish - iBienvenido a Mexico! 1

Mexican children present five lively videos for KS2 Spanish

This second part of a two-part primary series, created to help Key Stage 2 pupils learning Spanish, comprises five short videos filmed in Mexico. Native Spanish-speaking children present and engage in an array of fun activities including a tour of their school, a game of charades, an interview with a shopkeeper and a news show on music, sports and weather. All of these are designed to encourage the use of Spanish. Supporting the KS2 framework for modern languages, these lesson starters give pupils a great basis for learning Spanish and they enhance cultural understanding.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Primary Modern Foreign Languages

> Spanish